Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:11:17.592Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Was early man caught knapping during the cognitive (r)evolution?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2003

Rich Masters
Affiliation:
Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kongmastersr@hku.hkmaxwellj@hku.hk
Jon Maxwell
Affiliation:
Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kongmastersr@hku.hkmaxwellj@hku.hk

Abstract

Wynn describes a revolution in cognitive abilities some 500,000 years ago, which added new sophistication to the curiosity of early man – the ability to form hypotheses. This derivative of archaic curiosity is a fundamental feature of learning, and it is our contention that the naive hypothesis testing behavior of early man will have left a distinctive trail in the archaeological record.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)